ALPINE, Texas - Estevan Ortiz walked off game one's 10-8 win before baseball fell 14-9 in game two for a doubleheader split with Mary Hardin-Baylor.

"I thought our hitters had some good approaches in both games," said head coach Bobby Mesker. "The bullpen did a decent job overall to keep games close. Mow and Ibanez didn't let the game get out of hand, then the offense finally struck on the walk-off by Ortiz. We'll need some of the same stuff tomorrow if we want to take this series."

Game 1: Sul Ross 10, Mary Hardin-Baylor 8 (9 innings)

After a scoreless first, UMHB struck first for a 1-0 lead in the second.

Peyten Kennard dropped down an RBI sacrifice bunt to score Tye Lindsey for a 1-1 tie after two.

The Crusaders answered with two in the third before quickly falling behind 8-3 after a seven-run bottom of the third. Thor made it a one-run game with an RBI single to plate Orlando Moreno. Jared Roiz soon singled around Tristan Karels for a 3-3 tie. Kennard then stepped in and hit a three-run shot to left, bringing in Thor and Roiz for a 6-3 advantage. After a Jorge Marquez double, Estevan Ortiz singled him in. Karels later singled home Ortiz for an 8-3 lead after three.

UMHB scored five over the next three innings to make it 8-8 going bottom six.

Neither side scored between then and the top of the ninth to give Sully an opportunity going bottom nine. With Kennard on second, Ortiz sent a blast to left field and gone for the 10-8 win in extras.

Kennard led the game with four RBI and matched game-highs of three hits and two runs scored.

Karels also had three hits.

Ortiz finished with three RBI and two runs scored.

Chris Ibanez picked up the win after three shutout innings on one hit with two strikeouts.


Game 2: Mary Hardin-Baylor 8 (9 innings)
The Crusaders stormed ahead with nine runs in the top of the first.

Thor got the Lobos on the board in the bottom of the first when Orlando Moreno came around on an RBI groundout to first. Roiz later singled in Karels for a 9-2 score after one.

Still 9-2 in the fourth, Ortiz brought it to 9-5 with a three-run homer. Marquez and Kevin Potts scored on the dinger to make it a four-run game. Jared Lorenz later brought in Karels on a sacrifice fly to left to make it 9-6 going to the fifth.

UMHB responded with three in the fifth to extend their lead to 12-6.

Roiz doubled home Lindsey in the fifth before later coming around on a passed ball to cut it to 12-8 after five.

After the Crusaders scored one in the top of the sixth, Roiz plated Karels on a fielder's choice for a 13-9 score going to the seventh.

UMHB added one more in the top of the inning and held the Lobos scoreless in a 14-9 final.

Ortiz and Roiz matched a game-best three RBI.

Karels led the game with three runs scored.

Aiden Becker threw four innings of relief with two earned runs and four strikeouts.

The split moves the Lobos to 13-19 and 10-16 in conference. UMHB stands at 20-16 and 13-13.

Both sides conclude the series at 1:00 p.m. Saturday from Kokernot Field.